Dish-Houston

Highland Village Adoption Center is only two cats or dogs away from its 2,010 adoption. HVAC is confident that on either Saturday, August 28 or Sunday, August 29, the magic number – 2010 – will be realized! The year’s success speaks volumes for the hard work of the organization.

HVAC began in December of 2007 as a three-weekend effort called Home For The Holidays. The initiative, founded by pet activists Tama Lundquist, Tena Lundquist Faust and Tim Moloney, was created to help eliminate homelessness among dogs and cats. The organization got its start when Highland Village, one of Houston’s most popular shopping landmarks, was approached and immediately agreed to donate rent-free space for the effort. With this support, the organizers set a goal of adopting 90 dogs and cats in nine days and were amazed when they were able to find new homes for 242 pets during the three weekends HVAC was open. The success has continued and now adoption number 2,010 is only two animals away.

“Through the efforts of so many dedicated volunteers, we have saved more than 2,000 pets from homelessness or worse. We hope that anyone wanting to provide a happy home for a furry friend will join us at Highland Village this weekend and help us realize the goal of number 2,010,” said Ms. Faust. “We wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this without the support of our volunteers – and the generosity of Highland Village.’

As the effort has grown, HVAC has evolved into a major rescue effort for homeless animals. Originally funded with grants and private donations, today HVAC is run by adoption agency Buster’s Friends, a nonprofit 501c3 organization dedicated to helping homeless and abandoned animals in Houston. The homeless animals that HVAC offers for adoption are from Houston’s Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care [B.A.R.C.]. The animals are chosen weekly from B.A.R.C, sparing them from euthanasia. HVAC volunteers wash, walk, feed, play and ready the animals for adoption.  All of the HVAC adopted animals are spayed or neutered and individuals who are interested and qualify to adopt a pet are asked to support HVAC by underwriting the $40 to $60 cost of the procedure.

Highland Village Adoption Center, www.bustersfriends.org

4056 Westheimer Road, a few doors down from Williams Sonoma

Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sundays 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.

What began three years ago as a four-week holiday mobile pet adoption program has turned into a year-round initiative to save thousands of Houston’s cats and dogs from being euthanized.  When Houstonians Tena Faust, Tama Lundquist, and Tim Maloney approached Highland Village owner, Haidar Barbouti, about using space at Highland Village as a  “Home For The Holidays” for cats and dogs on the verge of being euthanized, Barbouti, an animal lover, said absolutely.  And, “Home For The Holidays” was born in the old GAP building on Westheimer.  Hundreds of volunteers and dozens of Houston-based rescue groups came together and adopted several hundred animals the first year.  

When the group approached Barbouti last Christmas, he decided to give the group a permanent home at Highland Village.  During the past year, Buster’s Friends’, a rescue group dedicated to helping abandoned and homeless animals in the City of Houston was established and became the Highland Village Adoption Center non-profit organization that has been responsible for adopting out hundreds of cats and dogs. The organization, spearheaded by Deb Gerhardt, oversees the Center, which is manned solely by volunteers.  Highland Village retailers including Michael Kemper, Tootsies, Franco Valobra, Williams-Sonoma, Coldwater Creek and RA Sushi have also been instrumental in providing both in-kind and monetary support. DISH Dog Kaisur was adopted from Michael Kemper Salon 5 years ago in 2004 when they did in salon adoptions.

event chairs, Tena Faust and Tama Lundquist and Buster’s Friends board member Heather FieldsOne weekend in early December 2009, the Highland Village Adoption Center celebrated their third anniversary at an Adoption Center Open House. The well-pawed group enjoyed bourbon cider and treats as they toasted to three years of helping abandoned and homeless animals in the City of Houston find homes. Fifty-one cats and dogs were adopted over the three-day weekend- an all time record for the center.